When Deciding Child's Surname, 'Parental Agreement' Principle... Discussions Begin on Policies for Non-Marital Births

4th Basic Plan for Healthy Families Confirmed... Abandonment of Father-First Principle
Survey and Research on Non-Marital Childbirth Initiated, Family Scope and Regulations Also Revised
Parental Leave Expanded to All Employees... Parental Leave Pay Increased to 1.5 Million Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From now on, the child's surname at birth registration will be determined through parental agreement. The concept of family will be expanded to include ‘non-marital cohabitation’ in addition to marriage, blood relations, and adoption, and social discussions necessary for policies related to single non-marital childbirth, such as those involving broadcaster Sayuri, will commence. The scope of parental leave will be extended to include special employment types, and parental leave benefits will be increased to a maximum of 1.5 million KRW per month.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family finalized and announced the ‘4th Basic Plan for Healthy Families,’ to be implemented from this year through 2015, following deliberation at the Cabinet meeting on the 27th.

The government will review policy directions regarding the extent to which choices about family composition are recognized. Social discussions and research will be promoted on single non-marital childbirth, such as in the case of Sayuri, who gave birth using donated sperm. A nationwide survey on bioethics related to surrogacy, sperm and egg donation, and non-marital childbirth procedures will be conducted in the first half of the year, and the need for research and institutional improvements regarding the status of sperm donors and children’s right to know will be examined.

Measures to reduce discrimination based on family type will also be discussed. Article 781, Paragraph 1 of the Civil Act will be amended to establish the principle that the child’s surname is determined by parental agreement. Legal revisions distinguishing between children born in and out of wedlock will be reviewed. The scope and regulations of family will be adjusted so that de facto families not connected by blood or marriage?such as cohabiting or common-law couples, elderly cohabiting couples sharing care and livelihood, and foster families?are protected by law. The government is also considering deleting the definition of ‘family’ entirely from the Civil Act provisions.

A ‘birth notification system’ will be introduced, requiring medical institutions to notify public agencies of birth facts. To prevent blind spots such as avoidance of childbirth at medical institutions, the government will consider introducing a universal birth registration system in the long term. When unmarried fathers register a birth, if the mother’s whereabouts are unknown or she does not cooperate, birth registration can be made with confirmation from the family court. The government will review and improve systems related to police and dedicated officials accompanying responses to child abuse and domestic violence. Amendments to the spouse definition will be considered to allow punishment of violence in non-marital cohabiting families under the Domestic Violence Punishment Act, and the abolition of the non-prosecution provision requiring victim consent in domestic violence crimes will also be reviewed.

Support measures necessary to guarantee child-rearing life will be expanded. Freelancers and special employment workers will gradually be included as eligible for parental leave. From 2022, parental leave benefits will be increased by 300,000 KRW to a maximum of 1.5 million KRW per month. If both parents with children under the age of 1 use parental leave, each will receive support of up to 3 months with a maximum of 3 million KRW per month. From this year, medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth will be supported for adolescent parents under 19 years old, with the age limit gradually extended to under 24 years old.

In cases of failure to fulfill child support obligations after divorce, the burden of proof will be shifted from the creditor to the debtor, and system improvements will be pursued to allow detention orders even if partial payments are made. From July, travel bans, public disclosure of names, and criminal penalties will also be possible. The introduction of the so-called ‘Gu Hara Law,’ which excludes those who fail to fulfill child-rearing obligations from inheritance, is also under consideration.

As non-marriage, divorce, and remarriage increase, the number of people living their entire lives as single-person households is rising. To prevent isolation of single-person households, a ‘social network project by life cycle’ will be newly implemented. Young adults will receive education on preparing for independent living, middle-aged adults will receive psychological counseling and education for entering the later stages of life, and elderly individuals will be provided with training in daily care skills such as housekeeping and home management. Analysis and evaluation of welfare benefit unit standards reflecting the increasing trend of single-person households will also be promoted.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Jeong Young-ae stated, "We will continue policy efforts to embrace diverse families, guarantee stable living conditions, and create a social environment of mutual care."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.